Sonics Set Stage For Ehlo’s Last Stand Final Roster Move May Send Former WSU Star Packing

Seattle SuperSonics general manager Wally Walker must make his decision on the final roster spot by 3 p.m., today, and all indications are that Walker will waive veteran swingman Craig Ehlo.

The Sonics have 16 players on their roster, and under league rules can only keep 15, with 12 active and three on the injured list.

Walker has been actively trying to trade both Ehlo and guard Eric Snow for the past week, but because of salary cap restrictions has been unable to work a deal.

“The fact is,” Walker said, “more teams are in the mode of getting rid of guys rather than adding guys right now. We just want to make sure we have all the information and see if anything changes between now and the morning.”

With Sonics coach George Karl confirming Tuesday that Greg Anthony will be Gary Payton’s backup at point guard, Walker’s decision has come down to Ehlo and Snow.

Snow’s agent, Steve Kauffman, recently requested from Walker that he waive Snow outright. Snow and Kauffman are upset that Snow was led to believe if he re-signed with Seattle this summer, he would have the backup job. Then the team signed Anthony, and Snow, for now, has been relegated to third string.

However, Kauffman said that Walker rebuffed his request for Snow’s outright release, which would allow Snow to sign with another team that is interested in him with only minor salary cap restrictions.

Walker’s thinking likely is that while Ehlo, the former Washington State star, has little or no trade value because of his age (36), his poor performance last season and the two years left on his contract worth almost $1 million, Snow is attractive to several teams, if not now than at least in the future.

Also, Karl gave a pretty good indication Wednesday that Snow would be around. When asked if Anthony will be Payton’s backup Friday, Karl said: “Yes, but if I get my butt kicked than that may change. Also, I may play all three point guards at the same time.

Ehlo fell out of Karl’s favor last season when he struggled with his shooting, making only 35 percent from the field and 28 percent from 3-point range. Those numbers could become worse this season with the three-point line moving back to 23 feet, 9 inches.

Ehlo also is another indication of the supposed rift between Walker and Karl. While Walker likes Ehlo, in part because the two played together in Houston 15 years ago, Karl is not as enchanted with the 15-year veteran, one of the reasons the Sonics traded for Dale Ellis as insurance at the position.

Notes

Jim McIlvaine showed up at Wednesday’s practice but had to leave to see the doctor after coming down with a stomach ailment… . With the league’s announcement that Dee Kantner and Violet Palmer will become the first female referees, Karl said that he and his players have been reviewing what insults may and may not be used. “I don’t want to tell you what the words are,” Karl said.

Karl said a pretty fair barometer of how well the season is going to go will be the month of November.

“If we get double-digit wins in the month of November, Karl said, “we’re OK. If we go 9-9 or 8-9, the lack of chemistry will be challenged. I figure L.A. won 56 games last year, with Shaq missing 32. To get to 60 wins, we better get 10 in November.